Alaska or Bust…Continued in Canada

After the grizzly’s, we made through Montana, Wyoming and up to the Canadian border. It was interesting to see how the environment/architecture changed immediately upon crossing. I’m guessing it was a bit if the French influence. We crossed and made our way up through Whistler, Banff, and Vancouver. One of the coolest things we saw in Vancouver was the remnants of the Olympics and the ski jump. This puppy was for lack of a better word, scary! I looked at the height and I swear the decline was close to going straight down starting at the sky. I told myself I wouldn’t even get on a tube and slide down. Ok, skydiving is one thing, but that is ridiculous. I can’t even imagine what it takes to work up enough of a nerve to try that for the first time.
Vancouver was a beautiful city, exceptionally clean, and friendly residents. We didn’t stay here long, but I’d definitely go back. So the trip continued on up at whistler we stayed at the Four Seasons which was beautiful in the wilderness sense. The temperature was dropping with every mile we drove. It was springtime but you certainly needed a coat. So we continued on up and stopped at Banff. I had always wanted to make it to this spot (a mountain biker’s dream). We didn’t have the bikes on this trip, which was bummer, but the folks out there playing looked like they were having the time of their lives. We had to stop for a beer and watch the entertainment at the base of the mountain before continuing on. It was a beautiful area and well worth the detour.
So we continued on up ALCAN Hwy through Canada. Let’s just say there is a reason you see people with red gas cans attached to the tops of their cars. I can assure you that at every gas station we saw as we neared a half of a tank, we would fill up. We managed to do fine on the way up, it was the way back that we “almost” learned our lesson. Canada has more trees than I even knew existed. It was a trip. You could drive for miles and miles and good God, miles, and you wouldn’t see a human, a house, or a town. It went on forever and ever and on the way back we tested the limits of the gas tank. We neared the half tank mark and began scouting for the illusive gas station. Down to the quarter tank and then to the Eeeeeeeeeeeeee. It was around 1 in the morning and we were in the middle of nothing in a soft top jeep. While the top was closed, we still had beef jerky and Cheeto smell protruding from the Jeep. We were envisioning how big of a snack we would become if we had to sit with the vehicle until someone drove by. Maybe if we doused ourselves in hot sauce it would be like a puppy that was about to chew on the corner of the end table. He’d have one taste and make the face and walk away with a lost interest. It could work, right? Thank goodness we never had to try it out. What we did do though was slow way down to conserve gas. These hills were monsters and to get up them was a bit of a feat in itself. Then we’d take the foot off the gas to coast all the way down.

At one point we saw the sign that said, gas station, that way. Of course, being in the middle of trees and hoping “that way” wasn’t another 20 miles. We took the exit and went around enough bends to find a gas station. Since it was now closer to 2am on a Sunday, the stores are closed and it appears they do not believe in credit card usage at the pump in the after-hours. It was officially, all bad. We then got back on the main interstate and did the ole, up the hill, down the hill trick for another 5 miles with the Eeeee, starring at us. We drove into a little town and the gas station was right there on the left, but again, closed. We tried the pump—just in case. There was no credit card ability available and it was quite the show if anyone were to see us. Standing at the pump shaking the hose into the tank for all it was worth. Maybe a drip or drop would make it. Hell, we even considered the concept of the rubber tube and the gas tank. (Ok, we’d seen it on tv and how hard could it be?). Lol. But, I digress and there was no tube. We were officially SOL. It was time to get back in the Jeep and hope that we wouldn’t have to breakout the Flintstone method. We cruised a few more miles, hearing the choking of the tank and finally managed to slide into a working, fully wide awake gas station and were able to breathe. Phew, we were safe from becoming the bear snack (at least on this trip)

Moral of the story= Buy red gas + place on rooftop when travelling through Canada

ALCAN HWY

And the trip continues…check back tomorrow. If you missed the first part, please hit this button…Road Trip….

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About the Author

I have an undying passion for travel and exploring the unknown (at least to me). My curiosity and the military previously transported me around the world a few times only furthering my need to see more. Different cultures and people intrigue me. Learning new ways to do things, eating new foods, and dancing to a tune is part of my soul. Being able to just pack up and go with no real idea of where I'm going is what I call fun...now, I'm going to take you all along for the ride.